WBICDPH Chapter 89

Chapter 89 — Reunion with an Old Acquaintance

Lin Jin had never told anyone about what happened that night.

The woman who saved him had seemed like a visitor from the heavens—someone who could remove the mountain crushing him with the mere flick of a finger. In the days afterward, Lin Jin had often wondered about her identity. Yet among the hundreds of possibilities he imagined, none of them had been “she is the female protagonist of this story, Jiang Xianrou”—the woman now known as Jiang Zhenfeng.

Why had she saved him?

Thinking back carefully, Lin Jin realized that Jiang Zhenfeng had probably recognized long ago that he was not the original owner of this body. Yet not only had she not accused him, but she had also even helped him escape his predicament. Even now, knowing he was a foreign soul that had taken over her junior disciple’s body, she had never spoken a single word about it to the elders of Misty Rain Mountain.

Then again, that was exactly the kind of person Jiang Zhenfeng was—free-spirited and bold, someone who did things simply according to her own heart, without asking for reasons.

Lin Jin felt that he probably needed to speak with her alone someday. At the very least, he owed her both a proper apology and a sincere thank-you. But clearly, now was not the right time.

He, his friends, and their elders followed a junior sister from Piaomiao Pavilion on a tour through the Penglai mountain range.

The young disciple was thoughtful and attentive. She carefully introduced every corner of Piaomiao Pavilion, explained the rules of the upcoming Hundred Schools Sword Tournament, and arranged living quarters for each of them.

The rules of the tournament were simple: a standard elimination format with one-on-one duels. Alchemists, healers, and artifact refiners—cultivators who were not particularly skilled in combat—would compete in separate events. Everyone else—martial cultivators, talisman users, formation masters, and music cultivators—would be thrown together and decide victory through straightforward combat, fighting until the top eight, then the top four, and finally determining first, second, and third place.

Lin Jin already knew these rules from reading the novel, so he didn’t listen too closely to the explanation. Instead, he spent the entire time observing the pavilions and covered walkways throughout the sect.

The walkways were ingeniously designed. Upon closer inspection, they connected every small building and every mountain peak. These corridors crisscrossed in complex patterns, making it easy for anyone unfamiliar with the layout to lose their way among the nearly identical structures.

Lin Jin memorized several of the main locations and routes. Eventually, after wandering around for quite a while, the junior sister led them to a small mountain near the back of the sect.

This mountain appeared to be specifically reserved for visiting disciples and was called Autumn Cloud Terrace.

Unlike the other mountains covered in peach blossoms, Autumn Cloud Terrace was filled with red maple trees. At a glance, the orange-red leaves blended with pale gray mist, and among them stood scattered wooden pavilions.

Lin Jin, Han Ao, Hua Nanzhi, and Qi Xiaolang were placed in the same area. Their lodgings were connected by walkways and stood close together. After memorizing the location of each building, Lin Jin returned to his own pavilion to rest.

The room assigned to the disciples was quite decent—clean and orderly. When he opened the door, a faint scent of wood drifted toward him.

The furnishings inside were complete, with everything one might need. Lin Jin stayed inside for a while before opening the window to look outside.

He had heard that Piaomiao Pavilion would gather all visiting cultivators’ spirit beasts and companion animals at Fanghua Peak in the back mountains. If he remembered correctly, Autumn Cloud Terrace wasn’t far from there.

Lin Jin glanced at the time again.

By evening, once Xiao Yunkong and several other disciples from the three sects had arrived, their elders would probably gather everyone for some sort of pre-tournament meeting. That meant the time before then was completely free.

Earlier, Lin Jin had asked the junior sister about visiting spirit beasts. She told him that cultivators were allowed to visit their pets or bonded beasts at Fanghua Peak whenever they wished.

Lin Jin immediately thought of his poor, fluffy puppy.

Although this wasn’t the first time they had been separated, the last time he had entrusted the puppy to his reliable master, Mo Yuzi. But this time, the little dog had to stay in a strange place with unfamiliar companions for many days.

Could he handle it?

Would he accidentally get stepped on by the Taotie beast?

And what about Xiao Yun’er? Would she take out her frustration with Lin Jin on the puppy and peck its fragile body with her beak?

Standing by the window, Lin Jin’s eyes were filled with worry.

After a moment, the door opened and closed again. A figure in green robes moved swiftly through the mist and red maple leaves, heading toward Fanghua Peak.

Fanghua Peak

Xiao Lanqi lay sprawled lazily on top of the Taotie beast’s head. After a while, he yawned in boredom.

The small movement startled the beast so badly that its legs trembled, and it nearly collapsed face-first onto the ground.

Xiao Lanqi was jolted slightly and rolled his eyes impatiently.

Although the creature bore the name of the ancient ferocious beast Taotie, its personality was nothing like that of its legendary ancestor. Not only did it lack ferocity or majesty, but it was timid as a mouse. Worse still, it smelled strange. Xiao Lanqi suspected the creature had never taken a bath in its life. After lying on its head for a while, he felt nearly suffocated by the stench.

With a sigh, Xiao Lanqi stood up and jumped down from the beast’s head.

The moment he landed, dark mist spilled outward. The man rose from the demonic haze, faint blue-green light flashing across the demonic patterns on his arms.

Seeing this, the Taotie beast shuddered again and immediately dropped to its knees, trembling as it bowed in submission.

Xiao Lanqi glanced down at it. Like teasing a dog, he scratched the creature under its chin and lightly slapped one of its horns.

“Go on.”

Hearing this, the Taotie beast scrambled up and ran off as fast as it could.

“Pathetic.”

Xiao Lanqi snorted, watching its retreating figure before looking around the mountain.

There was nothing special about this place. It was filled with the spirit beasts and companion animals brought by human cultivators. Xiao Lanqi had no idea what crime he had committed to deserve being forced to stay with this group of low-level, foul-smelling creatures.

Unwilling to remain there, he sensed the surrounding barrier formations and then walked away from Fanghua Peak.

It was his first time at Piaomiao Pavilion, and he didn’t know the way. The mountains and buildings all looked the same.

Since he had no idea where to go, he simply kicked the barrier around Fanghua Peak before putting two fingers to his lips and blowing a sharp whistle.

Then he folded his arms and leaned against a red maple tree to wait.

A moment later, a sharp streak of sword energy shot toward him. Xiao Lanqi sidestepped the attack, and in an instant, the two exchanged dozens of moves.

Both of them held back, so the clash didn’t cause much disturbance. Eventually, Jiang Zhenfeng stepped back first, sheathed her sword, and coldly studied him.

“I wondered why that dog’s aura felt so familiar. So it really was you. After you left Ghostcry Cliff, there was no news of you again. I thought Xiao Lancheng’s pursuers had killed you. Who would have guessed you were living in Misty Rain Mountain as someone’s spirit pet? Quite the hobby, Young Lord.”

“Watch your words,” Xiao Lanqi said with a slight smirk. “If you hadn’t helped me at Ghostcry Cliff, this green flame would already be burning your hair.”

He flicked his fingers, creating a small spark of flame before blowing it out himself.

“You’re welcome to try,” Jiang Zhenfeng said lightly, perhaps with the hint of a smile.

Then she raised an eyebrow. “Speak. Why were you looking for me? I have things to do, so don’t waste time.”

Xiao Lanqi appreciated her straightforward personality.

“Two things,” he said. “First, I don’t want to live on the same mountain as those beasts. I need a reason to stay in Piaomiao Pavilion in my current form. Second, I want to ask about someone. He said he used to be a disciple here. Do you know where he originally came from before joining the sect?”

Even though Xiao Lanqi didn’t say the name, Jiang Zhenfeng knew exactly who he meant.

“Lin Jin?”

“Yes.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

“If you mean the current Lin Jin, I don’t know. But if you mean the previous one, he came from the mortal city of Chixia.”

Xiao Lanqi frowned.

“How could he miss the implication behind her words?”

“You’re saying the current Lin Jin and the Piaomiao Pavilion Lin Jin aren’t the same person? He’s a soul that took over someone else’s body?”

After a pause, he asked again, “Are you certain?”

Jiang Zhenfeng gave a faint laugh.

“I watched Lin Jin grow up. Of course, I’m certain. That child was incredibly simple-minded—bluntly speaking, foolish. Everyone knew he was just the furnace cauldron raised by Daoist Mushan, yet he believed himself to be his master’s beloved disciple. Mushan would flatter him with a few words, and he’d happily climb into the sedan chair to ‘visit’ Mingzhu Heaven. I warned him many times to be wary of people’s hearts, but he only thought I was trying to harm him. Even when I tried to save him from that demonic pit, he told me not to interfere. But the last time I asked him whether he wanted to escape, his attitude had completely changed. He didn’t even know who I was, and he was far cleverer than before. Tell me—why shouldn’t I suspect that the soul inside him has changed?”

With that explanation, Xiao Lanqi understood everything.

He had always felt something subtly off about Lin Jin’s stories about his past. Lin Jin was clever and full of tricks—if he had truly lived in Piaomiao Pavilion for so many years, how could he have realized his master’s malice so late?

But if Lin Jin really was a reincarnated soul, where could he even begin investigating?

Where exactly was the hometown Lin Jin mentioned? And if one day Lin Jin returned there, where would he go to find him?

To be clear, he wasn’t reluctant to let that troublesome brat leave. In fact, he would happily watch him die. But before that happened, he had to settle the debt Lin Jin owed him.

Xiao Lanqi lowered his eyes for a moment before looking at Jiang Zhenfeng suspiciously.

“You said you were the one who saved him?”

“And?”

Xiao Lanqi sneered, revealing the sharp fangs beneath his lips.

“I know what kind of person you are. You’re not like that kid—saving everyone out of kindness. When you helped me escape Ghostcry Cliff, you made a long list of conditions. Now you’re telling me you helped a soul who stole your junior brother’s body escape for free? Jiang Zhenfeng, what’s your real motive?”

“Don’t assume you understand me,” Jiang Zhenfeng said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“I helped you back then because I wanted you to restrain Xiao Lancheng. My condition was simple: if you ever regain control of Mingzhu Heaven, you must ensure it never invades Piaomiao Pavilion again. As for Lin Jin—if he fell into Xiao Lancheng’s hands, how would that benefit me or my sect? If he wanted to escape, I helped him. If he didn’t, I’m no saint who saves fools determined to die. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Why does it need some grand motive?”

Xiao Lanqi nodded slowly, a hint of amusement appearing in his blue-green eyes.

“Jiang Zhenfeng, you really are different from other humans.”

“Oh?”

“As a so-called righteous cultivator, you’re willing to bargain with a heavenly demon and release him from prison?”

“What does righteousness or evil matter? If it achieves my goal, why shouldn’t I cooperate with a demon?”

“That’s why I say—you shouldn’t be human. You should be a heavenly demon. If that brat had even half your indifference, I wouldn’t have to put up with him every day.”

“Perhaps.”

Jiang Zhenfeng raised an eyebrow slightly and returned to the main topic.

“You want to stay in Piaomiao Pavilion. I can help you—but if you cause trouble here—”

“Yes, yes, spare me the annoying threats,” Xiao Lanqi interrupted with a roll of his eyes.

Then he added, “Instead of warning me, you might want to keep an eye on your own sect. Piaomiao Pavilion keeps backing down in the face of Xiao Lancheng’s threats. Have you ever wondered if there’s a problem within your own ranks? Zheyu told me there’s a spy planted inside Piaomiao Pavilion. Mingzhu Heaven plans to work with that spy during the Sword Tournament.”

“Piaomiao Pavilion is already rotten to the core,” Jiang Zhenfeng replied calmly. “I know that better than anyone. I can help you stay here, but in exchange, you—”

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Xiao Lanqi already suspected she would attach conditions. But when he looked up, he saw Jiang Zhenfeng staring sharply toward a nearby spot.

“Who’s there?” she said coldly.

Xiao Lanqi followed her gaze.

A moment later, the waist-high grass beneath the red maple trees rustled. Soon, a figure in green robes emerged.

The person froze when he saw them.

Lin Jin looked at Jiang Zhenfeng, then at Xiao Lanqi beside her.

His pupils trembled in shock.

“I’m sorry,” Lin Jin said quickly.

He covered his mouth, took two steps backward, and forced out a weak explanation through his fingers.

“I—I was just passing by…”

I was just passing by to check on my puppy.

I didn’t expect to run into the senior sister of Piaomiao Pavilion secretly plotting in the back mountain with a two-meter-tall demon with braided black hair, green eyes, and the kind of fierce temperament that looked like he could swallow a child whole!!!